Webley Patriot-a review

[R. P. McMurphy]

Are the .25 cal Webley barrels true .25 sized or undersized like BSA's .25 barrels???

[baz]

I think the Patriot is the best Webley ever made too, excellent quality and far better than the other Webleys, they should have cost a little more and had decent guides, springs and piston washers from new, plus forget the 30+ftlb in .22 and set them up at cruising power

Same can be said for the Eliminator too, sweetest at around 25/26ftlb in .22 in my opinion

[hwtyger]

Same can be said for the Eliminator too, sweetest at around 25/26ftlb in .22 in my opinion[/QUOTE]

O, oh! Sounds like I have to pump up mine to above factory pressure than!
The newer Eli's all seem to settle as very low velocities, mine's around 23/24Ftp now, and its standard and not leaking..

I agree good tune is better than gasstrut. I have my Pat stock back, stockholes have bushings now, also, Maccari kit is OUT, standard spring + tight guide is IN. Welcome back!! Now replacing the bent screws and we're back in business!
Imo Pat is nót their best rifle. Longbow is more civilised design, has a nice LW barrel, no twang, no link play, and FAR better trigger..Patriot is pre-venom design, its a tool but not refined at all.., Kinda antique design..

[baz]

The Longbow wont reach Patriots performance even when shortstroke rubbish is removed, nice rifle though, strange stock grip though, I have hands like JCB shovels and it still seemed designed for a giant

Tuned Longbow in a decent stock (std Walnut looks like desklid quality)

[baz]

I had an Eliminator/Crusader here that shot at 20ftlb sweet as a nut and it only had a 12" barrel And was easy enough to cock with HW moderator fitted

[Rapidnick]

Are the .25 cal Webley barrels true .25 sized or undersized like BSA's .25 barrels???

They certainly aren't tight like the BSA .243 barrels so I reckon 'true sized'.

[Hellequin]

This is a cracking review and very interesting thread Nick, not sure how I missed it until now!

As you know I've been tempted by a Patriot for some time, especially in .25 calibre and think I might get round to putting in a variation soon so I can look for a decent one. Actually this thread almost makes me wish I'd gone for this option in the first place, instead of all the fannying around I've had with my HW80!

ATB
Paul

[Rapidnick]

This is a cracking review and very interesting thread Nick, not sure how I missed it until now!

As you know I've been tempted by a Patriot for some time, especially in .25 calibre and think I might get round to putting in a variation soon so I can look for a decent one. Actually this thread almost makes me wish I'd gone for this option in the first place, instead of all the fannying around I've had with my HW80!

ATB
Paul

In spite of your 'tribulations' with your HW80, I think you made the right call! As a general purpose self contained FAC air rifle a Weihrauch HW80 in .22 or .20 would be my choice based on every rifle I have owned and those I have shot. Note however my use of 'general purpose'. My problem is that I don't need a 'general purpose rifle: I need rifle dedicated to doing a particular job. That is why I use either a 30 ft lb.Rapid or a .22LR for hunting and vermin control over distance, a 17HMR for longer range work and a Falcon Lighthunter .177 for use around buildings and up into trees.. The self contained FAC rifles-Eliminator and HW80 which I had owned for ages- have been sold because of my bad shoulder and because I only ever intended them for use as backup and to use on the rare occasions when I wanted something totally different.
When Gareth's Patriot came up I used the slot I had been keeping for a .25 Rapid and the result is this review. The biggest surprise for me has been the ease of cocking and that is why I like it so much.

[Hellequin]

In spite of your 'tribulations' with your HW80, I think you made the right call! As a general purpose self contained FAC air rifle a Weihrauch HW80 in .22 or .20 would be my choice based on every rifle I have owned and those I have shot. Note however my use of 'general purpose'. My problem is that I don't need a 'general purpose rifle: I need rifle dedicated to doing a particular job. That is why I use either a 30 ft lb.Rapid or a .22LR for hunting and vermin control over distance, a 17HMR for longer range work and a Falcon Lighthunter .177 for use around buildings and up into trees.. The self contained FAC rifles-Eliminator and HW80 which I had owned for ages- have been sold because of my bad shoulder and because I only ever intended them for use as backup and to use on the rare occasions when I wanted something totally different.
When Gareth's Patriot came up I used the slot I had been keeping for a .25 Rapid and the result is this review. The biggest surprise for me has been the ease of cocking and that is why I like it so much.

Yes I know you're right Nick (about the section I've highlighted) but the grass is always greener...

I am still on the lookout for something short(ish), light, probably .22 and sub 12fpe for my close up shooting around the farm. An old FN12 is probably favourite for that one but who knows... I do think a 26-28fpe .25 Patriot would be good, though maybe a little more than I really need.

[hwtyger]

I wasnt talking about powerlevels really, but overall quality and shootability. The Pats isnt the best webley ever because of that imo. Most powerfull maybe, but that doesnt make it the best webley. The Pat is a very rough rifle. To shoot, to cock, the trigger..The Lb/tommy's are very refined and much better at thése things. Ofcourse not as powerfull, but power is nothing without control! The Lb isnt even designed for FAC imo, max 13Ftp and 12 is even better. My FAC Tommy does 20Ftp in .22.
The trigger of the Pat is nowhere near the Lb unit imo. Unless the Pats unit is getting really worn. Than it gets better, lighter. I prefer the Lb unit over the Record. The Pats..eehr, not.
Its a large big heavy 'huntingrifle', the Pat, not refined. Imo the Lb is 1 of webley's best rifles. (mk3 and stingray are great too, and many say the omega)Sadly, the Tommy flopped. Logically, its designed for FAC not 12Ftp. I have several though, a FAC Tommy, a shortstroked 12Ftp Tommy, 2 Cobra's and a Patriot (and Eli) so I know my stuff!

[Rapidnick]

I wasnt talking about powerlevels really, but overall quality and shootability. The Pats isnt the best webley ever because of that imo. Most powerfull maybe, but that doesnt make it the best webley. The Pat is a very rough rifle. To shoot, to cock, the trigger..The Lb/tommy's are very refined and much better at thése things. Ofcourse not as powerfull, but power is nothing without control! The Lb isnt even designed for FAC imo, max 13Ftp and 12 is even better. My FAC Tommy does 20Ftp in .22.
The trigger of the Pat is nowhere near the Lb unit imo. Unless the Pats unit is getting really worn. Than it gets better, lighter. I prefer the Lb unit over the Record. The Pats..eehr, not.
Its a large big heavy 'huntingrifle', the Pat, not refined. Imo the Lb is 1 of webley's best rifles. (mk3 and stingray are great too, and many say the omega)Sadly, the Tommy flopped. Logically, its designed for FAC not 12Ftp. I have several though, a FAC Tommy, a shortstroked 12Ftp Tommy, 2 Cobra's and a Patriot (and Eli) so I know my stuff!

Thanks for that. I agree the Longbow is a lovely rifle and much more refined than the Patriot. I have limited experience with 'harsh' Patriots as mine is nicely tuned. Do I prefer it to the Eliminator? No I don't-if it wasn't for my shoulder I would still have the .20 Eliminator and not the Patriot. However, my Patriot was very modestly priced. is in superb condition and is shooting pretty well so all-in-all I am pretty happy.
I am not a user of a magnum FAC springer as my prime gun-it is a backup and 'fun' rifle only. My main hunting air rifle is a Rapid and is likely to remain so as it is just so predictable, consistent and SO forgiving. With any of the magnum rifles you have GOT to be on top of your game or you will be spraying pellets everywhere and that isn't on when hunting living things.

[hwtyger]

I dont shoot my magnums a lot either. No prob, no hunting here anyway..
I mostly shoot 12Ftp, even 7.5J, even we dont have a powerlimit (yét). They're just very nice to shoot, and usually, its all the power you need.
My Pat is internally virtually new, hasnt had a tin through it, from new. So its not tuned or civilised (yet)